Hello, My husband and I will be going to Oahu in November the week of Thanksgiving with our 13 year old daughter. We are renting a car for the week and will be staying in Waikiki and also on the North Shore. We plan on driving around quite a bit. I was thinking of renting a Mustang convertible but I was wondering about the low car and going to different beaches and around the island. We plan on hiking to Kaena Point and I have read in one place if you go in from the North Shore there is a 4WD road part of the way but I have read elsewhere that that road is now closed. Not sure which info is right. If there is a 4WD road, I was thinking of renting a Jeep Wrangler. We have a Wrangler at home so are very used to driving one. I was also wondering about access to some of the more remote beaches and trying to pull off the road and park in the Mustang.
I would greatly appreciate any advice from you Oahu experts or anyone with experience in the Mustang rental and using it around the island.
Thanks in advance for all your advice.
April

The road around Kaena Pt. is closed to automobile traffic.

The road washed out in the 1960's and was never rebuilt.

It is only open to hiking and bicycles.

Oahu is great -- I lived there 10 years. It's a beautiful island, but do get out of Waikiki. My favorite beaches are Lanikai (Windward side) and Malaekahana (North Shore). One thing to consider with a convertible -- unfortunately, break-ins aren't uncommon in rental cars, especially in more remote areas. Don't leave valuables in the car.

My advice is compact as you can tolerate!
Traffic is often horrendous and parking at a premium. manuverability and being able to fit into a compact parking spot helps!

We saw some new(to us) three wheeled little cars...always bright yellow and Asians were always driving the ones we saw...tiny little bugars!

Belle

Thanks for the info. I have read about the car break-ins so I definately will leave nothing in the car!
We are getting out of Waikiki. I have rented a bungalow right on the beach at the North Shore (Kei-Iki). We are staying in Waikiki for the first 2 nights and then to the North Shore. Not sure about the last couple of nights yet. My daughter has recently fell in love with surfing so the Waikiki is a must for her. We also want to go the Pearl Harbor.
I am assuming by our responses that the 4WD is not really necessary just small size and I guess a Mustang is pretty small. I just thing the convertible would be fun. Do you think I will have trouble parking it?
Thanks again. April

The new Mustangs are not a large car. Budget rents them and they consider them a mid-size. They have a SMALL trunk, and the back seat is impossibly uncomfortable for an adult/teen to sit in for any length of time. We rented one for a road trip here at home, and it is a FUN car! But I can't imagine 3 people + luggage in one...